Poor Sense of Smell Linked to Higher Risk of Early Death in Older Adults

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found older adults who have a poor sense of smell have a nearly 50 percent greater risk of dying within a decade, reports Earth.com . The researchers reviewed and analyzed data from about 2,300 participants 71 to 82 in the National Institute on Aging's Health ABC study. Subjects were followed for 13 years, and the assessment included a smell test of 12 odors. A poor sense of smell corresponded with a 46 percent higher risk of death after 10 years and a 30 percent risk at 13 years. Those in good health at the start of the study were at a greater risk of death, suggesting sense of smell should be taken seriously as a predictor of potential health problems. Although a reduced sense of smell is an early sign of dementia and Parkinson's, these factors could not sufficiently explain the higher risk of death associated with smell. "It tells us that in older adults, impaired sense of smell has broader implications of health beyond what we have already known," says Michigan State University's Honglei Chen. "Incorporating a sense of smell screening in routine doctor visits might be a good idea at some point."